Adjustable display rack shelf and mounting therefor



Aug. 23,; 1938. E. R. ERICKSON I 2,127,721

' ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY RACK SHELF AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Jan. 26, 1937 .Zifi dawn/a Patented Aug. 23, 1938 ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY RACK PATENT OFFICE SHELF AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Ernest R. Erickson, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to C. E. Erickson Company, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa,

a corporation of Iowa Application January 26, 1937, Serial No. 122,405

3 Claims. (Cl. 211150) The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable display rack shelf and mounting therefor of a kind which can be used in assembly with a display rack having other shelves, or independently of such other shelves as may be desired.

It is particularly my purpose to provide a structure of the kind under consideration, comprising a pair of shelf members so mounted that they can be adjusted to a great variety of positions, including position to form a. single horizontal shelf. i V

A further object is to provide suitable means for mounting such a shelf.

With these and other objects in View, my in vention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my adjustable display rack shelf and mounting therefor, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Figure l is a perspective View of a shelf and mounting embodying my invention, the dotted lines illustrating the assembly of my invention in connection with a bread rack or the like.

Figure 2 is a horizontal, sectional View taken on the line 3-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of certain of the elements forming part of the mounting of the shelf.

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view of a slightly different form of post from that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 6 to 14 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating various adjusted positions of a shelf.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a slightly different form of post; and

Figure 16 is a vertical, sectional View of the post shown in Figure 15 with the front half of the tubular member cut away and its side walls shown in section.

In designing and building display racks for bread and other merchandise, I have found that there is a need and a demand for a shelf, preferably a top shelf, which is not necessarily level.

Some want a shelf inclined in one way and some another. I have in the present invention devised a shelf to meet the requirements of practically all of those who want a tilted shelf, as well as of those who are satisfied with a horizontal shelf.

I have shown in Figure 1 my improve-d shelf, indicated generally by the reference character A and have shown in dotted lines a bread rack B to illustrate an installation in which my present shelf may be assembled.

My shelf may be mounted at the upper end of two spaced posts.

In Figures 2 and 5, I have shown two different forms of posts.

In Figure 2, I have illustrated such post at H3. The post In is of the tubular upright type. The shelf A consists of two shelf members ll and i2, which by means of the mounting herein to be explained may be adjusted to any of the positions shown in Figures 6 to 14 inclusive, and to many other positions.

Each of the shelf members II and I2 is supported on the two posts Ill in the manner now to be described. 1

I provide a plate l3, which has a central countersunk portion I4 adapted to fit into the upper end of one of the tubular posts Ill. In the center of the plate I 3 is an angular hole 15 to receive the angular shoulder IS on a long rod ll, which is anchored at its lower end in any suitable way, not shown, for locking the plate l3 to the post If).

The plate 13 has an upstanding flange or plate l8 at one side. Both faces of the plate It are corrugated, preferably by radial ribs I9.

Secure-d to the under side of each shelf member I I and I2 is the horizontal member 20 of an angle bracket C, which has the holes 2| to receive the bolts 22.

Each of these angle brackets has the vertical flange 23. Formed integrally with the vertical flange 23 is a projecting disc-like member 24, the inner face of which is corrugated as indicated at 25 with radially arranged ribs and valleys to cooperate with the ribs IQ of the plate I8.

It will be seen that by simply turning the brackets C around, they are adapted for use with the respective shelf members I I and If. They are so arranged that the disc-like portion 2 3 of the bracket member C of the shelf member ll engages one side of the plate l8, while the corresponding member 25 of the bracket C of the shelf member I 2 engages the other side of the plate I8.

The corrugated faces of the portions 25 engage the corrugated faces of the plate 18. The members 25 and I8 are fastened together by means of a threaded bolt 26, nut 21 and a lock washer 28.

It will, of course, be understood that the parts at the upper ends of the respective posts l0 are duplicates.

The parts are rather loosely assembled with the nuts 21 on the bolts 26. Then the shelf mem-- bers II and I2 are adjusted to any desired position, and the nuts are tightened, whereupon the shelf members will be locked in such position.

In Figures 6 to 14, I have illustrated a variety of positions, which these shelf members may take.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified type of post 30, which may be used in place of the posts It]. The post 30 is an ordinary tubular post with the upper end flattened as at 3| and provided with corrugations 32 on its opposite faces.

In Figures 15 and 16, I have shown a little different kind of post. The tubular member M has its upper end flattened as indicated at 4 l. A-corrugated plate 42 has its upper end curved on the arc of a half circle and is provided with radial corrugations 43. Below the corrugations 43,,the plate 42 has the opposite shoulders 42c and the inclined edges 42b and the leg member 42a, projecting snugly into the tube 40. This is just a convenient way for building up the post.

It will, of course, be understood that where posts like the posts 30 or 40 are used, the plate I8 is unnecessary.

The shelf members H and I2 may be provided at their outer edges on their upper surfaces with lengthwise extending ribs or the like 33, so that when the shelf members are tilted downwardly from their inner edges, they will hold merchandise.

I have for some time been engaged in making bread racks. I find that the grocery-men would prefer a shelf at the top of the rack, which can be tilted to different positions for holding a great variety of merchandise. Some keep their racks away from the wall and some keep them close to the wall. Where a rack is spaced from the wall,

a shelf with parts which can be tilted as shown in Figure 2 is desirable. On the other hand, where the rack is placed next to the wall, it is more desirable to have a shelf that will tilt to a position, such as is illustrated in Figure 6 or one such as is illustrated in Figure 10.

It will be seen, however, that with the arrangement here illustrated, any position desired may be readily selected.

I claim as my invention:

- 1. In a structure of the kind described, a pair of upright tubular posts, a plate on the upper end of each post having a countersunk portion projected into the post, each plate being adapted to be locked to its post, each plate having an upright flange, the flanges of the respective plates being substantially parallel with each other, a pair of shelves, brackets on the shelves having disc-like portions, and means for locking the disc-like portions of the brackets to the flanges of said plates.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of tubular posts having their upper ends flattened, disc-like plates having shanks received and gripped between the sides of the flattened portions of the posts, a pair of shelves, brackets on the shelves having disc-like portions, and means for locking the disc-like portions of the brackets to the disc-like plates on the posts.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of tubular posts, members projecting into the upper ends of the posts and secured therein having upwardly projecting disc-like plates, a pair of shelves, brackets on the shelves having disc-like portions, and means for locking the disc-like portions of the brackets to the disc-like plates on the posts.

ERNEST R. ERICKSON. 

